Like many other sea cucumbers, they are slimy. The snot sea cucumber, however, is known for its soft, gelatinous body in addition to its mucus-like texture, which gives it its unusual name.

Underneath the slimy layer, they are covered in microscopic spines, called anchors, that help the sea cucumber burrow through the sand.

They burrow themselves in sand or mud, and capture food particles using branching tentacles around their mouth, leaving discarded trails of sand as waste behind.

As this species feeds predominantly on decomposing organic matter, plankton and microscopic algae, the snot sea cucumber plays a vital role in nutrient cycling and improving sediment health.

Interesting Fact

Sea cucumbers have the ability to regenerate parts of their bodies if certain sections are lost due to ecological or predatory circumstances!